Surviving a trip while trying to eat healthy!

It can be done people.  It can be done!!  I just survived 6 days of a 'celebration' and remained OP *on plan*!  It was hard and frustrating, but deeply satisfying knowing that I was making the best choices that I could.

Tuesday was our travel day.  I packed protein bars to help with breakfasts and while they weren't terribly good on the carb count, they were packed with protein.  I had one of those for breakfast and lunch that day *I couldn't bring myself to pay the prices for something on the plane.*  When we arrived at the hotel, we were on our own for dinner that night.  I was thankful that the food court at the hotel had fresh salads, so I snagged the chef salad *picking some of the meat and cheese off* and scored a light ranch dressing.

Wednesday, they served a brunch, but it wasn't scheduled to be served until 10:30.  So, I had another bar.  At the brunch, I chose scrambled 'eggs', fresh fruit, and topped my eggs with some fresh *didn't look bottled* salsa.  We had our free time and we then went to our session at 4:30, but rather than have a session, they took all 4,000+ of us to Sea World *SURPRISE*!!  Talk about amazing *and almost dreamlike.*  They had different kinds of buffets set up all over Sea World for a variety of taste pallets.  I ended up with some BBQ chicken, 1/4c to 1/2c of potato salad, some fresh fruit, and a salad *dipping my fork in the dressing because they didn't have any light dressings.*  I opted out of dessert.

Thursday, we were on our own for breakfast.  I had a latte and a bar for breakfast.  Lunch was salad *yippee* and a couple of different choices of meat *I chose chicken*.  They also had rice, but I didn't have any of that.  I mainly had the salad.  Dinner that night was *like* a typical camp meal:  Asian noodles *just veggies or veggies and chicken*, chicken bratwurst *with HUGE rolls*, pizza, hummus with pita bread or breadsticks, mini apple pies and brownies for dessert.  What I snagged from that:  noodles with veggies, one bratwurst *no roll*, some hummus with a few pita wedges, 1 breadstick, and a mini apple pie.  Can you say, "Carb overload??"  There wasn't a single vegetable there that night!!

My remaining breakfasts *Friday/Saturday/Sunday* were all a skinny latte, my protein bar, and a banana.  Friday's lunch was in Epcot.  I ended up with a Caesar salad *I could feel my arteries clogging...ha!*  I grabbed a 'side' salad that night with light ranch for dinner.  It had a mess of fresh veggies on it and it was pretty tasty.  Lunch on Saturday was a bag lunch.  My choices were:  turkey sandwich on a HUGE roll, chicken salad wrap, sun chips, potato chips, pretzels, apple/banana, and a cookie.  My choice:  chicken salad wrap, sun chips, an apple, and a cookie for a treat.  The chips ended up being a snack later in the day.  Our dinner Saturday, was a sit down meal.  We were served a salad *yippee*, our main entree was a small *probably 2oz piece* of fish, a 2-3oz piece of beef something or other, about 1/4c of mashed potatoes, and some cooked rainbow carrots *yum!*  I had the mousse that was there for dessert, but wished that I hadn't after I found out how many points it was!!  Yikes!!

Yesterday, I found a place that made a salad at the airport.  Pricey, but worth every penny to me.  I had it made with mixed greens, onion, black olives, tomatoes, cucumber, and chicken.  It was served with a whole wheat roll and I snagged some fat free raspberry vinaigrette dressing.  Dinner?  Was another bar.

While I did okay, I felt like our provided meals were lacking in the vegetable department.  My body didn't like being 'deprived' of veggies.

Regardless of the lack of veggies, I did get plenty of exercise in.  Hubby and I took the stairs *98% of the time.  There were a couple of nights where I was just plain tired.*  Our room was on the 8th floor *I was never so thankful to NOT be on the 16th floor!*  And I didn't really start to get winded until the 6th floor.  I also went to the fitness center 3 times while we were there.  Our room was about 10 minutes from the ballroom where our seminars took place *Yes...in the same hotel!  Crazy, no?*  I also counted all of the walking we did at Sea World, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios.

The trip was wonderful and relaxing.  I loved seeing folks that I haven't seen in 4 years.  This was a valuable lesson to me.  I know now that I can manage no matter the circumstances.  It just takes a little planning, some perseverance, and some will power.  Anything is possible!  Keep at it everyone and I know that you will succeed!